Thill-coupling



(No Model.)

P. BROADBOOKS. THILL COUPLING. No. 448,707. Patented Mar. 24, 1891.

, UNITED STATES PETER BROADBOOKS, OF BATAVIA, NElV YORK.

PATENT ()FFICE.

THlLL-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 448,707, dated March24, 1891. Application filed March 28, 1890. Renewed January 15, 1891.Serial No. 877,887- (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, PETER BROADBOOKS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Batavia, in the county of Genesee and State of New York,have invented a new and useful Improvement in Thin-Couplings, of whichthe following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in thill-couplings, in which theordinary clip having the forwardly-extending ears is used in conjunctionwith an improved thill-securing bar, coupling-pin, 850.; and the objectsof my improvements are to provide a coupling that will of itself beanti-rattling, inexpensive, and durable, as well as affording facilitiesfor securely clamping the rear end of the thill to its adjacentcoupling-bar in such manner that the wood at this point will not befractured by the side strain incidental to the use of the ordinarysecuring-bolt. I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 is a perspective view ofthe entire coupling. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken through thecenter of the coupling-pin. Fig. 3 is a view of the coupling-pindetached, and Fig. 4 is a modification.

Similar letters refer to similar parts through out the several views.

The shackle or clip A is provided with the usual screw-threaded ends ct,carrying the securing-nuts a, by means of which, through theintervention of the clamp-bar A, the clip is secured to the axle of thevehicle in the usual manner.

B are coupling-ears attached to the part A, and are provided withlateral holes, through which the coupling-pin B passes and to which ishinged the thill-iron 0, upon which is mounted the rear end of the thillG. This iron 0 is provided near its rear end with laterallyextendingears 0 and having holes 0', which holes are outside of the edge of themain iron, so that the clamp D may pass over the wood thill, while thelegs of the clamp at their screw-threaded ends a are made to passthrough the holes 0 and to impinge against the thill upon either sidethereof. Upon these 1 clamp ends Ct are placed screw-threaded nuts ct,by which the thill is securely fastened to the iron 0, thereby making afixed fastening and preventing the splitting of the wood by any sidewrench of the thill, as is liable to be done when the parts are unitedby the usual bolt passing through both the wood and metal and centrallyof the same.

E are cylindrical collars attached to the outside of each of theshackle-ears, and through the whole of which passes the coupling-pin.Upon the periphery of each collar is made a screw-thread, and screwedthereupon is the elongated closed-end nut E, the office of which willpresently appear.

F is a set-screw screw-threaded into the eye end of the iron 0 andpassing entirely through the lower wall of the cylindrical part, so thatthe inner end of the set-screw may enter within the groove Z), made inthe pin 13', when the same is in working position.

The endsof the coupling-pin are made to project beyond the collar E, sothat as the nut E is screwed upon the collar the closed end will uponthe inner side thereof be made to impinge against either end of the boltfor the prevention of endplay of the same.

By preference, I make conical ends upon this bolt with a correspondingconcavity in the nuts end, so that as the parts become worn the nutmaybe tightened upon the bolt end, which will (by this ball-and-socketmechanism) prevent all rattling by the end movement of the bolt, whilethe adjustment of the set-screw prevents any rattling of the thillironupon the bolt, thereby securing an antirattling thill-coupling withoutany acconipanying complications to detract from the symmetricalappearance of the coupling.

It will be observed that the coupling-pin may be kept from lateraldisplacement by means of the set-screw, the end of which enters withinthe peripheral groove made in the pin; also, that the set-screw may bedispensed with altogether and the pin be held in place by meansof thenut alone; but I prefer to use both devices in order that all rattlingof the parts'may be obviated.

If desired, the nut E and collar E may be made in one and the samepiece, and the long bearing for the pin still be retained by having thenut made with a thread upon its peripheryat its inner end andscrew-threaded into the car 13, as shown in the modification representedby Fig. 4; but I prefer to have the collars permanently attached to thecars,

so that by a single operation of the drill a true line-bearing may beformed uniform with the pin-an operation not easily attained by boringprevious to attachment, which must be done when the capped nut andbearingcollar are in one and the same piece. Vhen the pin is (throughthe intervention of the set-screw) made to move with the thill, thislong bearing formed by the collar-extension is of importance, as theabrasion of the parts in a given time is less than it would be were thethin ears alone used to overcome the Wearing resistance incident to thedrawing of the carriage.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, with the thill draftiron, of the coupling-clip, thelaterally-extending collars permanently secured to the draft-ears,whereby a long bearing is secured, the coupling-pin passing entirelythrough the whole, and the capped pin-retaining nuts screw-threaded uponeither collar, for the purpose described, and substantially as hereinset forth.

2. The combination, with the thill draftiron, of the coupling-cliphaving the laterally-extending collars permanently secured to thedraft-ears, the peripheral screw-thread upon the collar, thecoupling-pin provided with the rounded ends extending through and beyondeach collar, and the capped nut, the inner side of which cap is madeconformable to the rounded end of the coupling-pin and capable of directimpingement thereagainst, for the purpose described, and substantiallyas herein set forth.

3. The combination, with the thill draftiron, of the set-screw in theeye thereof, the coupling-clip provided with the laterally-extendingcollars upon either draft-ear, the coupling-pin capable of passingthrough the whole, the peripheral groove centrally of the pin, andwithin. which groove the inner end of the set-screw enters, for thepurpose described, and substantially as herein set forth.

PETER BROADBOOKS. Witnesses:

G. W. FORD, FRANK. W. BALLARD.

